Private Machu Picchu tour from Aguas Calientes with guide

Your guide adapts the pace and focus to what interests you most at the citadel.

A private guided tour of Machu Picchu departing from Aguas Calientes with round-trip shuttle bus and a licensed guide who customizes the visit to your interests and pace. The guide leads you through the Main Temple, Sacred Plaza, agricultural terraces and viewpoints while sharing the history and hidden anecdotes of the Inca citadel. Entrance ticket must be purchased in advance separately.

Step-by-step itinerary

Private guided tour of Machu Picchu

• Take round-trip bus from Aguas Calientes
• Visit main temples and agricultural terraces
• Explore the main plaza and viewpoints
• Learn history and legends from guide
• Visit Intihuatana Stone with guide
• Enjoy panoramic views of Machu Picchu

The experience

This tour is built around having your own guide rather than joining a group, which means the itinerary bends to what you want to see. You'll visit the most important temples, the agricultural terraces, and the main plaza, but the guide adjusts how long you spend at each stop based on what draws you, whether that's the Intihuatana Stone at the top of the site, the Royal Tomb, or the best angles for photographs. The guide speaks English or Spanish and shares the archaeology, cultural context, and stories of the citadel as you move through it, answering questions on the spot instead of following a fixed script.

Round-trip shuttle bus tickets from Aguas Calientes to Machu Picchu are included. The entrance ticket to the site itself is not and must be bought separately in advance. The tour runs 5 to 6 hours. Because you're traveling with only your guide rather than a larger group, the experience stays focused on your pace and your questions, and you avoid the crowded clusters that form around group tour leaders.

What’s included

• Round-trip shuttle bus from Aguas Calientes to Machu Picchu.
• private licensed guide speaking English or Spanish.
• access to the Main Temple, Sacred Plaza, agricultural terraces, and viewpoints including the Intihuatana Stone.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery day

AgesAdult (5 to 95 years) · Under 5: can't be booked

GroupPrivate

Live guideEnglish and Spanish

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup is optional; you can also go straight to the meeting point. Ends back at the starting point.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.

Prices and times updated 6 days ago

Good to know

Moderate physical effortWheelchair accessiblePets welcomeNot recommended during pregnancyNot recommended with heart problems

Operated by MACHUPICCHU EXPLORATION PRIVATE TOURS E.I.R.L.

Is this one for you?Book this tour if you want to move through Machu Picchu at your own pace with a guide who adapts to your interests rather than following a fixed group schedule. The private format means you set which sites matter most and how long you linger at each one.

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Top questions

What languages is the tour guided in?

Live guide in English and Spanish.

What is the Intihuatana Stone and why does the guide take you there?

The Intihuatana Stone is a carved granite monolith at the top of Machu Picchu, known as the "Sundial," used by the Incas for astronomical observations and sun rituals. Your guide will explain its significance in Andean cosmology and take you there partly for the archaeological insight and partly because it offers one of the best panoramic views of the entire site.

Do I need to buy the entrance ticket before I book this tour?

Yes, the Machu Picchu entrance ticket must be purchased separately in advance and is not included in this tour. The tour includes only the guide service and round-trip shuttle from Aguas Calientes to the site.

How does a private guide differ from a group tour at Machu Picchu?

With a private guide, you set the pace and choose which areas to focus on (the Main Temple, Sacred Plaza, Royal Tomb, or viewpoints) without waiting for a group to move together. You can ask questions at any time and the guide adapts explanations to your interests rather than delivering a standard script to twenty people.

What is included in the tour cost?

The tour includes round-trip shuttle bus transportation from Aguas Calientes to Machu Picchu and the private guide service in English or Spanish for 5 to 6 hours. Meals, drinks, and gratuities are not included.